WARREN Driver found guilty in death of his friend

The defendant wiped tears from his face as he left the courtroom. By PEGGY SINKOVICH VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF WARREN -- A 23-year-old Warren man has been found guilty of a misdemeanor charge of vehicular homicide. Christopher Denno pleaded no contest Friday before municipal Judge Terry Ivanchak, who found him guilty and scheduled sentencing for 1:15 p.m. Monday. Denno could face up to six months in the county jail. Police said that on July 28, Denno's 1996 red Camaro crashed into a telephone pole on North Road S.E. He was seriously injured, and his friend, Jeremy Roddy, 25, of Howland, was killed. Members of Roddy's family sat in the first row of the courtroom during Friday's hearing. Pamela Miller, Roddy's mother, held up a picture of her son, while other family members told the judge how much Roddy is missed. Victim's mother: "I never got to say goodbye to my son," Miller said, as tears ran down her face. "All I can do now is ask God to give him a kiss and tell him I love him every day. I just want my son back." Denno, who declined to comment, wiped tears from his face as he left the courtroom. Judge Ivanchak encouraged the family members to return for sentencing, saying that it may help bring closure. Atty. Michael Joseph, who represents Roddy's family, said the police department did not properly investigate the crash. The Roddy family wanted Denno to face felony charges, but a Trumbull County grand jury indicted him on misdemeanor charges. Prosecutors would have to demonstrate that Denno acted recklessly to prove a charge of vehicular homicide, a third-degree felony, said Nick Graham, an assistant city law director. sinkovich@vindy.com